There’s nothing like owning a motorcycle. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or use your bike as your primary transportation, it’s a unique way to get around town. As you would with your car or truck, you must insure you and your bike. However, if you’ve never owned a motorcycle, navigating the world of bike insurance can feel overwhelming.

Purchasing motorcycle insurance differs slightly from auto, home, or rental insurance. While there are some similarities, we’ll explain a few guidelines before diving in. That’s because there’s no generic bike insurance coverage. You can customize your coverage to your needs.

Our team at Saferoad Insurance wants to ensure you know the ins and outs of bike insurance before purchasing. Below we will answer commonly asked questions in our guide to the different types of motor insurance coverages.

Do I Need To Purchase Motorcycle Insurance?

Whether you ride your motorcycle every day or on occasion, you should have insurance. This way, you can protect yourself and your bike from financial loss due to unforeseen incidents. Most states will require that you insure your motorcycle; if not, you could lose your license or get hit with hefty fines.

Required Motorcycle Insurance Coverage

In California, you’ll need to register for motorcycle insurance. This state requires that all riders have the minimum of:

• $5,000 in property damage per accident
• $15,000 in bodily injury per person
• $30,000 in total bodily injury per accident

Liability Coverage

The state of California requires you to obtain liability insurance for your bike. This insurance pays for others’ injuries or damage you may have caused. This will cover their medical bills and expenses to repair their property if damaged. While it doesn’t protect you or your bike, it will also cover any legal fees for accident-related lawsuits.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage

Collision and comprehensive coverage help fund repair or replacements if your bike gets damaged in an accident. If your motorcycle gets damaged in a collision with another vehicle or large object, such as a tree limb, you can file a claim to help get it fixed.

On the other hand, comprehensive insurance will help financially if your bike gets damaged in a non-collision accident. Comprehensive coverage will cover incidents like vandalism, theft, or falling objects. However, it will not cover the cost of regular wear and tear on your motorcycle.

It’s important to note that collision and comprehensive insurance only apply to the original parts of your bike. If you’ve customized your motorcycle with specialized equipment, you should talk to an agent about additional coverage.

Underinsured Coverage

Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage is not required in the State of California. However, we highly recommend that you add this to your policy. It’s a great coverage that can help those who don’t have insurance or enough insurance to cover the damages. You never know who’s on the road and how they drive. Protect yourself and your bike from having to front the bill for damages you didn’t cause.

Additional Coverages To Consider

As stated above, you can customize your motorcycle insurance to your necessities. You can choose various add-on options to make your rides more comfortable. From roadside assistance to covering your GPS systems, Saferoad Insurance can ensure your items are financially considered.

Roadside Assistance

Anything can happen when you’re on the road. Roadside assistance can come to your rescue, from a popped tire to your bike breaking down to being low on gas. We highly recommend that all our drivers add this to their policy. This can help you save money on hefty tow bills or maintenance invoices.

Motorcycle Gear Coverage

Good news! Your favorite motorcycle accessories and gear can get insured through our policies. Your insurance will cover the following items in case of an unforeseen incident:

• Highway pegs
• Fairings
• Saddlebags
• Windshields
• Lightbars
• Helmets
• CB radio
• AM/FM radio
• Cruise control
• GPS systems
• Luggage racks
• Custom paint and chrome

Before you insure your items, make sure to evaluate each accessory and gear to ensure that you have enough coverage. Some insurance companies will have a limit on how much you can insure. Keep your receipts and work with an agent to get the best service.

Trip Interruption Coverage

Some motorcycle enthusiasts use their bikes to travel long distances. Whether traveling a hundred or a thousand miles, the ride there takes much energy to achieve. For this reason, some insurance companies offer trip interruption coverage. If your bike breaks down or you get in an accident within a set radius of your home, you can get compensated for the inconvenience. This will help pay for food, transportation, and your hotel while you wait for your bike to get replaced or repaired.

How Much Insurance Should I Get?

It can be tricky to tell how much insurance you need for your motorcycle, especially if you don’t ride often or only have it for show. While you don’t need $1 million in collision or liability, you should get enough insurance to realistically cover the cost of your repairs or replacement for your bike, possible medical bills, and other unforeseen incidents. Many factors, like age and driving history, determine your premium and how your insurance gets calculated.

The Type of Bike You Ride

While everyone views their bike as “priceless,” not every bike holds the same value. An $800 bike from Marketplace doesn’t have the same value as a new bike off the lot. Older bikes with high power are typically considered a higher risk than a collectible item in your garage.

Your Bike’s Value

The more expensive your bike, the higher your premiums. This is why it’s essential that you consider all the costs before you purchase a motorcycle. Your bike may have unique or more expensive parts that take more effort and money to repair—which can increase your insurance payments. However, just because you have a more affordable bike doesn’t mean your premium will be low. Be sure to talk to an agent to help get the best calculation.

Is Your Bike Supercharged?

The bigger the engine, the more your bike will cost to insure. Like more expensive bikes, insurance companies view powerful motorcycles as a risk on the road. This is because they typically cost more and are faster than your standard motorcycle. You will need to pay more for your premium due to the increased risk of getting into an accident or someone stealing the bike.

We hope our guide to the different types of motorcycle insurance policies will help you understand how the process works. At Saferoad Insurance, we provide affordable insurance coverage to the residents of California. From home to auto to boat insurance, you can save big and bundle your policies with us! For more information or for a motorcycle insurance quote, please contact us at 877-945-7233.